Martin County deputies searching for suspect in reported armed robbery

MARTIN COUNTY ? Sheriff's officials continued late Tuesday investigating an armed robbery at a grocery store, where clerk was tied up and held at gunpoint.

Deputies scoured the area around the La Placita grocery store in the 2200 block of Indian Street in Stuart, using K-9s and the sheriff's helicopter, for more than two hours Tuesday afternoon before they broke down the search perimeter, said sheriff's spokeswoman Christine Christofek.

The suspected robber was described as a white man in his 20s or 30s, about 6-foot 1-inch or 6-foot 2-inches tall, wearing a long-sleeved black hooded sweatshirt and black pants with white stripes.

The store clerk called 911 about 11:45 a.m., telling deputies the man pointed a semi-automatic pistol at her and demanded cash from the register, said Sheriff William Snyder. Surveillance video from behind the front counter showed the man approaching her while pointing a gun, as she removed cash from the register.

The man then tied her up in the back of the store and dragged a safe out the back door, Snyder said. The store clerk wasn't injured.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the man suspected of committing it should call 911.

About Laurie K. Blandford

Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter, covering the Martin County beat. She started as a freelancer in 2008, was hired full time in 2010 and covered local government for five years until she joined the breaking news team in 2013. She is a Fort Pierce native, Florida Gator and lifelong Miami Dolphins fan.